New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Dueconto`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Dueconto`, characterized by its salmon pink flowers; floriferousness; early flowering; flowers that are resistant to rain damage; compact growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green and satiny non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, named`Dueconto`. It is anticipated that the plant of this application will bemarketed under the Trademark "HWD Concerto". Accordingly, the plant ofthis application may be referred to as "HWD Concerto" `Dueconto` in themarket place.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop a new salmon pink-flowered variety that wasfreely branching; compact in growth habit; flowered early; and withflowers resistant to rain damage.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of thecultivar `Aruba` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,456) as the male orpollen parent with the cultivar `Delias` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 7,838) as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar `Dueconto` was discovered and selected by the inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Rheinberg, Germany, has shownthat the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Dueconto`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Dueconto` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Salmon pink flowers.

2. Numerous flowers per plant.

3. Early flowering.

4. Flowers that are resistant to rain damage.

5. Compact growth habit.

6. Freely branching plant habit.

7. Dark green and satiny non-variegated foliage.

In comparison to plants of the parent cultivar Aruba, plants of the newImpatiens have a more compact growth habit and flower earlier.Additionally, plants of the new Impatiens have salmon pink flowerswhereas plants of the cultivar Aruba have blue purple flowers. Comparedto plants of the parent cultivar Delias, plants of the new Impatienshave larger flowers, flower earlier, and are more compact. Additionallyplants of the new Impatiens have salmon pink flowers whereas plants ofthe cultivar Delias have medium pink flowers.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical pottedplant of `Dueconto` with one plant in a 12-cm container.

Some of the flowers in the photograph appear darker in color than theactual flower color due to light reflectance.

The cultivar `Dueconto` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Rheinberg,Germany, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse withday temperatures of 28° C. and night temperatures of 20° to 22° C. andlight levels of 30,000 to 40,000 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens.

Cultivar.--`Dueconto`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Cultivar `Aruba` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,456).

Female parent.--Cultivar `Delias` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,838).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer, 27C: About 21 days. Winter, 20C: About28 days.

Plant Description:

General appearance.--Rounded; dense; freely branching and compact growthhabit; upright and spreading; moderate growth rate; suitable for 10 to12-cm pots.

Plant height.--16 to 17 cm from soil level to top of plant plane.

Foliage description.--Shape: Elliptic with acuminate tip and attenuatebase. Size: Length: 9.5 to 11 cm. Width: 3.2 to 4 cm. Texture: Smooth,satiny, and glabrous. Margin: Finely serrated, ciliate. Petiole length:1 to 1.5 cm. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Darker than 137A.Young foliage, under surface: 147B. Mature foliage, upper surface:Darker than 137A. Mature foliage, under surface: 147B. Veins, uppersurface: Midvein dark purple, 59A, laterals, 147B. Veins, under surface:Midvein, 146D, laterals, 146A. Petiole: 147C/147D under side with darkpink, 63B, on upper side.

Stem description.--Internode length: 4 to 5 cm. Stem color: More maturestems, green, 146C. Younger stems are purple, 59A.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.--Year-round. Under summer conditions, plantsflower 6 to 7 weeks after planting; under winter conditions, plantsflower 9 to 11 weeks after planting.

Flowers born.--Flower buds develop in apical leaf axils. Open flowersare displayed above the foliage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Very floriferous; usually 17 to 19 buds andopen flowers per axil.

Flower longevity on plant.--From opening, flowers will last 7 to 12days.

Flower diameter.--About 6 cm.

Flower depth (height).--1.5 to 2 cm.

Petals.--Shape: Cordate. Quantity, arrangement: 5 petals overlapping.Aspect: Flat. Size: Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Texture:Smooth, satiny, and glabrous. Margin: Entire. Color: When opening: 52B.Upper surface: Iridescent, 52C. Small red purple, 57A, eye and lighterred purple, 57D, streaks and flecks. Under surface: 58C. Small redpurple, 57A, eye and lighter red purple, 57D, streaks and flecks.

Peduncle.--Angle. Erect. Length: About 4 cm. Color: Proximal, 144B,distal, 59B.

Flower bud.--Shape: Ovoid with spur. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:About 1 cm. Color: 59A.

Spur.--Shape: Needle-shaped, curved at end. Color: 45A/46A/185A.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Opposite. Quantity: 2. Shape: Ensiform withacuminate tip. Texture: Shiny, smooth and glabrous. Margin: Entire.Color: Upper side: Proximal, 145C/145D, distal, 66C. Under side:Proximal, 145C/145D, distal, 66C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: 5. Anther color: 57C.Pollen color: 11D. Gynoecium: Ovary color: 144A.

Disease resistance: No fungal, bacterial nor viral problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiensplant named `Dueconto`, as illustrated and described.